Leon Oscar Kearns, 80, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 9, 2017 at the Knox County Nursing Home in Edina, Missouri.

Born September 10, 1937 in Elkhart, Iowa, Leon was the son of the late Oscar J. and Edna M. (Shafer) Kearns. He married Carol Jean Barnhill on August 15, 1970 in Kirksville, Missouri.

Leon is survived by his wife Carol of forty-seven years; one son, Steven Kearns of Kansas City, KS; one daughter, Kathleen Jones of Kirksville, MO; one sister, Shirley Locke of AR; five grandchildren, Marisa Kearns, Jeremy Kearns, Timothy Kearns, Christopher Jones, and Marcus Jones; and three great-grandchildren.

Leon received his education and graduated from high school in Elkhart, Iowa. He served his country in the United States Air Force for twenty-two years with the 325th Bomb Squadron as a tail gunner. Leon was a genealogy buff and enjoyed landscape painting.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janene Ponwith and one sister, Elaine Moden.

No public visitation will be held.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri under the direction of Travis-Noe Funeral Home of Kirksville.